Researcher
Integrative Marine Ecology Department
Tel. +39 081 5833236
Fax: +39 081 7641355
e-mail emanuela.dattolo(at)szn.it
Procaccini's Group website
Research interests
I am a molecular ecologist, with expertise in aquatic ecosystems, with particular focus on marine plants. My research interest is to understand the evolutionary processes leading divergence among populations along environmental gradients and the selective pressures associated to the marine habitats. I am particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms underpinning phenotypic plasticity and genotype-environment interaction. I investigate phylogeographic patterns and spatial genetic structures produced by random genetic drift and neutral mutation in seagrasses and Mediterranean invasive seaweeds. Complementary to this, I explore the adaptive divergence among populations caused by local environmental selective pressures. I like to work at the interface of ecology and evolution, refining my expertise in ecological genetics but also in functional genomics to investigate molecular signature for adaptation to marine life. My special interest is in photobiology and, particularly, the molecular adaptation of photoreceptors and circadian and photoperiodic programs of marine plants. The research project in which I’m involved is dedicated to investigate Posidonia oceanica response to changes of environmental cues. Particular emphasis is placed to elucidate consequences of the alterations in light regimes on Posidonia photosynthesis expected from global changes and assess its phenotype plasticity. To respond to these questions, I’m testing the photo-acclimatory responses of the specie, in natural and mescocosm conditions, applying photophysiological and gene expression (RT-qPCR and RNA-seq) methodologies.
Selected Publications
Lauritano C., Ruocco M., Dattolo E., Buia M., Silva J., Santos R., Olivé I., Costa M., Procaccini G. 2015 Response of key stress-related genes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the vicinity of submarine volcanic vents, Biogeosciences, 12, 4185–4194; doi:10.5194/bg-12-4185-2015.
Dattolo E., Ruocco M., Brunet C., Lorenti M., Lauritano C., D’Esposito D., Procaccini, G. 2014 Response of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to different light environments: Insights from a combined molecular and photo-physiological study. Mar. Environ. Res. 101, 225–236;doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.07.010.
Carotenuto Y., Dattolo, E., Lauritano, C., Pisano F., Sanges R., Miralto A., Procaccini G., Ianora, A. 2014 Insights into the transcriptome of the marine copepod Calanus helgolandicus feeding on the oxylipin-producing diatom Skeletonema marinoi. Harmful Algae, 31, 153–162; doi:10.1016/j.hal.2013.11.002
Dattolo E., Gu, J., Bayer P.E., Mazzuca S., Serra I.A., Spadafora A., Procaccini G. 2013 Acclimation to different depths by the marine angiosperm Posidonia oceanica: transcriptomic and proteomic profiles. Front. Plant Sci. 4:195; doi:10.3389/fpls.2013.00195.
D’Esposito D., Dattolo E., Badalamenti F., Orsini L., Procaccini G. 2012 Comparative analysis of genetic diversity of Posidonia oceanica along a depth gradient using neutral and selective/non neutral microsatellites markers Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 19 (1): 45-48.
Jongma D.N., Campo D., Dattolo E., D’Esposito D., Duchi A., Grewe P., Huisman J., Verlaque M., Yokes M.B., Procaccini G. 2012 Identity and origin of the slender Caulerpa taxifolia strain introduced into the Mediterranean sea Botanica Marina; 56 (1) 27-39; doi:10.1515/bot-2012-0175.
Serra I.A., Lauritano C., Dattolo E., Puoti A., Nicastro S., Innocenti A.M., Procaccini G. 2012 Reference genes assessment for the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in different salinity, pH and light conditions Marine biology, 159 (6):1269-1282; doi:10.1007/s00227-012-1907-8.
Wissler L., Dattolo E., Moore A. D., Reusch T.B.H.; Olsen J.L., Migliaccio M., Bornberg-Bauer E., Procaccini G. 2009 Dr. Zompo: an online data repository for Zostera marina and Posidonia oceanica ESTs Database; doi:10.1093/database/bap009.
Blanch I., Dattolo E., Procaccini G., Haroun R. 2006 Preliminary analysis of the influence of geographic distribution and depth on the genetic structure of Cymodocea nodosa meadows in the Canary Islands Biol. Mar. Medit. 13 (4):19-23.
